Wrapping machine for articles of varying sizes



R. J. BEUTEL `lune 17, 1952 WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF VARYING SIZES 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 28, 1946 ncocwmn un un. nlm .neunkeumaua urac.

INVENTOR ROBE RT J. BEUTEL ATTORNEY R- J. BEUTEL June 17, 1952 WRAPPING MACHINEA FOR ARTICLES OF VARYING SIZES 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1946 ROBERT J. BEUTEL FIG. 2

FIG. 9

ATTORNEY June 17, .1952 R. J. BEUTEL 2,600,833

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF VARYING SIZES T Filed May 28, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNvNToR ROBERT J. BEUTEL BVA/M ATTORNEY June 17, 1952 R. J. BEUTEL WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES oF VARYING sIzEs Filed May 28, 194e 7 sheets-sheet '4 ATTORNEY June 17, 1952 R, J, BEUTEL 2,600,833 WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES oF VARYING sIzEs Filed May 28, 194e y 7 sheets-sheet 5 FIG. 5

i LJ' INVENTOR ROBERT J. BEUTEL ATTORNEY June 17, 1952 R. J. BEUTEL WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF' VARYING SIZES 7. sheets-sheet e Filed May 28, 1946 FIG. 6

FIG. 7

June 17, 1.952 R, J, BEUTEL 2,600,833

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF' VARYING SIZES Filed May 28, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 f gli?? mvENToR 450 ROBERTJ. BEUTEL 'l 424 Bwd @M/ ATTORNEY Patented .une 17, 1'95 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE WVRAPPING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF VARYING SIZES Robert J. Beutel, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American .Machine and Foundry Company', a `corporation of New Jersey appueationmay 2s, 194s, Vserial No. 672,786

' terial, in such a way that the Aposition of the laps along the bottom seam of each package is properly located and also a minimum of wrapper is used in the formation of satisfactory packages.

According to the present invention, ,I have provided a machine in which itis possible to obtain the above desired results, and at the same time increase the efficiency of the machine, especially in connection with the web feeding, cutting and wrapper sheet handling mechanism which 'form parts of the cocrdnatedwrapping machine structure.

The web feeding mechanism consists of two web feeding devi-ces: One device is .mounted on the lifter table which transfers an article `and a wrapper from an article receiving station to an article delivery station ata different elevation and wherein each article so delivered is' partially enwrapped in the wrapper sheet. The second web feeding device, which is termed an auxiliary web feeding mechanism coa-cts with the main web feeding device on the lifter table and pulls web from a supply reel or roll :during a .considerable portion of each operating cycle of vthe machine. In this manner the main `web feeding mechanism on the lifter table, which can be adjusted to .feed a desired length of wrapping material according to size of article to be wrapped, `can feed amaximum length of material tothe wrapperhold-ing and repositioning mechanism in a minimum of time only during a minor portionof 4each cycle of the machine. This is because when the Vlifter table moves to its article lreceiving station, wrapping material which has lbeenpulled over a 'fvertically movable slack roller from ythe supply .roll by the .main and auxiliary feed mechanisms, is paid out freely between therollers -on the-lifter table but is not positively *fedbyy ftheserdllersgat this time. .As soona-s this slackyroller moves upwardly rduring the operation offthe main-:feed mechanism awa-y from :a nontrol'device which controls the operation of theaueiiliary.feedfmechanism, additional wrapping ,material is ufed iby the auxiliary deed from :the .source fof suppl-y. This conti-nues until a Vsuflicientamountfof wrapping material has been fed or made available for the next feeding operation of the main web feedmechanism on the ,lifter table during `the next feeding cycle of operation of the wrapping machine. Hence, `the auxiliary wrapping material feeding mechanism operates over a major portion of each machine cycle.

As a result of .the above noted method of feeding wrapping material, if a wax paper is fed,

accumulation -of wax on the feed rollers .is materially decreased because vof the substantial elimination of slippage in starting the feed of wrapping. .material fromv .the relatively heavy ,supply roll. This arrangement .also reduces wrapping material web breakage, .and as mentioned above,

makes ,possible the feedV .by the lmain feeding mechanism on .the lifter table vof a predetermined length of web in a minimum Aof time. Fur-therrnore, .the only positive feeding operation of the main web feeding mechanismen the lifter table be made with a minimum of wrapping .material tearing if the web is held .under .considerable tension between. the clamping .rollers and vthe feeding mechanism on the lifter table. ForV that reason Athese mechanisms vare 4designed .to `-main- ,35 tain the web taut when .asheet is to :besevered from the web. 1

It Ahappens rather frequently that :articles 4to be wrapped, such as .loaves of bread, may -beoverproofed or vary in circumferential measurements.

Therefore, in order to insure `that the inner and outer laps of the wrapper adiacent the bottom of a wrapped `loafer bread Willybe properly positioned, -I have' provided -a `repositioning mechanism which operates after each wrapper sheet :has been `cut from the web-.of .wrapping material supply to relocate .the sheet .and .position it vin such Aa manner thatproper inner and outer laps will be lforme-d along theV -bottom fof each package. I have also provided vmeans 'for making suitable adjustments from 4time to time `inerder to .cover a wide range of -article sizes.

The invention also consists in the provision of controlled lifting mechanism which operates to lift `.the wrapper .clamping .rollers which .hold the 5s upper-endfof Ia draped wrapper in-order to-.gradually release the pressure on the upper supported end of a wrapper sheet and thereby minimize the crushing effect of a wrapper relative to a soft article to be wrapped, such as a loaf of bread. This mechanism also provides means for making tight or loose wrapped packages. Since means are provided for adjusting the opera-tion of the clamping rollers, a wide range of tight-loose wrapped packages is provided.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide an improved bread wrapping machine having wrapper feeding mechanism carried by the article lifter table which is responsible for la more eicient feeding and accurate feeding of wrapper material.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a wrapping machine having a mechanism which supports and holds a portion of a wrapper draped in the path of travel of an article to be Wrapped onto an article lifter table and which vmechanism is operated to reposition the Wrapper relative to the article to be wrapped in such a manner that those portions of the wrapper Which form the overlaps of the final package can be positioned with considerable accuracy prior to the engagement of the wrapper sheet by the article to be wrapped.

The invention also consists in the provision of a no-article, no-wrapper control mechanism forming an adjunct to the web feeding mechanism which prevents the operation of the main web feeding mechanism in the event that an article is not present to receive a wrapper. In this manner Waste and breakage and jamming due to uncontrolled Wrapper feed are eliminated.

It is a further object of the invention to porvide a wrapper sheet control which controlsthel tension of a wrapper being encircled about an article being wrapped in accordance with whether it is desired to produce a tightly or loosely Wrapped package.

The invention also consists in the provision of an improved type of article delivery conveyor forming a part of the wrapping machine in Which lmeans are provided for adjusting the speed of the delivery belts in order to accommodate oversize articles and small articles with equal satisfaction. In this manner adequate time for cooling heated seals is provided for all sizes of articles passing through and out of the machine.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a web feeding mechanism for a wrapping machine wherein web feeding rollers are mounted on the article lifter table of the wrapping machine which are normally set into operation at a predetermined time during each cycle of the machine in order to advance a predetermined amount of wrapping material to web clamping mechanism.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an auxiliary web feeding mechanism operative in proper timed relation with the operation of the main web feeding mechanism, which auxiliary mechanism operates over a longer period of time during each cycle of the machine to pull paper from a source of supply, and make available such wrapping material for feeding by the main web feeding mechanism with a minimum of accumulation of Wax, if wax paper is fed, and with a minimum of breakage with respect to all types of wrappers being passed through the machine.

The invention also consists in the provision of a control device which is operative to displace a portion of a wrapper out of the path of the advancing end of a succeeding wrapper sheet as it is being fed in order to prevent obstructions and jams in the operation of the machine and increase the general over-all efficiecy thereof.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and form a part of this specification, and wherein the several reference characters designate the same or like elements:

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the improved wrapping machine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side View, partly in cross-section, showing the positively driven feed rollers on the lifter table and the lap adjustment and knife mechanism;

Figure 3 is a front view taken from line 3 3 of Figure l showing the auxiliary paper feeding device;

Figure 4 is a front View taken from line 4 4 of Figure l illustrating the positive feeding rollers and also the lap adjusting feed rollers;

Figure 5 is a front view taken from line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the mounting of the knife, lap adjustment drive and looper arm, also included is the main cam shaft of the machine and coacting members;

Figure 6 is a plan View taken from line 6 6 of Figure 1 of the lap adjusting rollers and associated parts;

Figure 'I is a plan view taken from line 1--1 of Figure 1 showing the variable speed drive for the article take-off conveyor;

Figure 8 is a side view of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a detail View of the clutch throwout mechanism employed to disengage the drive of the feed rollers on the lifter table;

Figure 10 is a side view taken from line l--I il of Figure 3 of the auxiliary paper feed control unit;

Figure l1 is a plan view of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail view of the lap adjusting driving means; and

Figure 13 is a front View of Figure 12.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, the main cam shaft 2U of the wrapping machine is provided with a gear 2| meshing with a pinion 22 mounted on a shaft 23. Shaft 23 is also provided with a pulley 24 over which runs a driven belt 25 receiving motion from a pulley (not shown) preferably of a variable type and a suitable source of power. Shaft is supported by side frames 26 and 21. The front end of the frames 26 and 21 are spaced by frame 28; the rear ends oi frames 26 and 21 are spaced by a tie frame 30. Shaft 23 has one end supported in a bearing of frame 26; its other end is supported in a bearing 3| in bracket 32 attached to tie frame 30.

On cam shaft 20 is mounted a crank arm 33 (Figures l, 10 and 11) carrying a roller 34 running in a track in a gear segment 36 loosely mounted on a stud 31 supported in side frame 21. A collar 38 provides means for retaining segment 36 on stud 31. Segment 3S meshes with gear 40 loosely mounted on a stationary stud 42 carried by side frame '21. Gear 40, by suitable means described hereinafter, imparts motion to a sprocket 44 also loosely mounted on stud 42.

'Sprocket 44 drives a chain 46 running over a side frame sprocket 48 (Figures 1 and 3) loosely mounted on a stud 58 secured to frame 21. Sprocket 48 drives a gear 52. The hubs of sprocket 48 and gear 52 are formed to provide a clutch 54. Gear 52 in turn drives gear 58 attached on the end of shaft 58 carrying a feed roller 88. Gear 82 also secured to shaft 58 meshes with a gear 84 driving shaft 88 having attached thereto a plurality of spaced feed rollers 68. The ends of shaft 88 are carried by bracket arms 18 pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 12 supported by side frames 28 and 21. The end of each bracket 18 is provided with an ear 14 supporting a post 18 to which is secured one end of a spring 18 connecting to a post 88 mounted in side frames 28, 21 of the machine. Springs 18 are provided to normally hold feed rollers 88 and 68 in web feeding engagement.

Stationary stud shaft 42 (Figures l0 and 11) supports a loosely mounted ratchet Wheel 82 and a second ratchet wheel 84 which is secured by screws 88 to sprocket 44, mentioned hereinabove. Gear 48 supports a stud 88 carrying a pivotally mounted arm 88 which at its free end mounts a Froller 82 adapted to engage a depressedv arc shaped seat 94 formed in the outer periphery of ratchet wheel 82. Arm 88 is also provided with a tooth 88 preferably formed integrally therewith adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 84, and thus drive ratchet wheel 84 and sprocket 44. A spring 88 having one end anchored to a post |88 fixed to gear 48, and its other end anchored to a post |82 in arm 88 tends normally to hold roller 92 in engagement with its seat 84 in ratchet wheel 82. As seen in Figure 10, a pawl |84 engages a tooth of ratchet wheel 82 thereby preventing it from turning. Thus, when gear segment 38 turns in a counterclockwise direction it drives gear 48 in a clockwise direction causing roller 82 to be disengaged from seat 84 thereby moving tooth 98 out of engagement with a tooth on ratchet 84 and stopping the rotation of ratchet 84 and sprocket 44. When this occurs, roller 92 rides first upon the outer smooth periphery |88 of ratchet 82, and then over the toothed portion of ratchet wheel 82 4holding the tooth 98 of arm 98 out of engagement with the teeth of ratchet 84.

It has been found that approximately 218 travel of sprocket 44 is ample to feed the maximum amount of wrapping material, such as waxed paper or regenerated cellulose required to envelop packages within the range of the machine, although obviously the amount of travel of sprocket 44 can be more or less if desired. To prevent an overrun of paper being unwound from reel R, a stop pin |88 is secured in and projects from stationary shaft 42, and so positioned that it registers with the zero or starting position of the feeding cycle of segment 38 and gear 48. Pin |88 engages in an arcuate groove ||8 formed in ratchet wheel 82, the groove being of a depth suicient to clear the diameter of pin |88. It will be seen that when the ratchet 82 rotates its maximum travel, step ||2 at the end of groove ||8 will engage the pin |88 and interrupt the drive of sprocket 44. On the return cycle of gear 48, roller 92 engages seat 84 and carries the ratchet 82 back to its starting position, the same being stopped by the engagement of step ||4 with pin |88.

Pawl |84 is loose on a stud ||8 (Figures 10 and 11) which fits intoy an aperture ||8 provided in the end of a stud |28 extending from 21 of the machine. Pawl |84 is operated by a link |22 (Figures 1 and 3) which connects to a head |24 at the end of cross shaft |28l rotatably supported in frames 28, 21. Shaft |28 carries spaced arms |28 provided with lugs |29 formed integrally therein which engage protruding shouldered ends |38 of cylindrical plugs |32 inserted into the ends of hollow floating or slack roller |34 and mounted to travel up and down in substantially vertical tracks |38 formed by spaced guide bars |39 fastened to tie frame 28 extending transversely of the machine and secured to side frames 28, 21. When this roller |34 is in down position (as sho-wn in Figures 1 and 3), arms |28 Iare depressed causing link |22 to` move pawl |84 into engagement with ratchet wheel 82 and stop the feed of wrapper web from reel R.

The web of wrapping material W unwound from reel R is threaded between rollers 88 and 88 and around floating roller |34 upward over a guide roller |48 supported by the side frames 28, 21 of the machine, and between driven feed rollers |42 and |44 supported on and carried by the lifter table of the machine, designated generally as |48. Roller |42 is provided with a plurality of spaced peripheral grooves |43 in which are seated stripper ngers 538, described more in detail hereinafter. When feed rollers |42 and |44 are driven, they pull slack wrapping material previously fed by rollers 88, 88, floating roller |34 is lifted upward thereby permitting arms |28 to ascend and move pawl |84 from engagement with its ratchet 82. A counterweight |48 adjustably mounted on rod |49 secured to head |24 acts to return arms |28 to their up position in readiness to again be engaged by ends |38 of roller |34 as it descends. When this takes place, pawl |84 is disengaged from ratchet 82 and the web feeding mechanism, described hereinabove, is made operative to feed additional paper. A spring |58 on rod |22 positioned between a collar |52 on rod |22 and a cut-out portion |34 on pawl |84 is provided to take care of am7 over run of the rod |22.

Feed rollers |42 and |44 on lifter table |48, previously mentioned, are intermittently driven from a cam |88 secured to cam shaft 28. Cam |58 is provided with a suitable track |81 tracked by a cam follower' |58 (Figures l and 3) carried l at the upper end of a cam lever |88 fulcrumed on a stud |82 supported by frame 28. The lower curved arm |84 of lever |89 is provided with an arcuate slot |88 engaging a stud |88 of a connecting rod |18 which is connected to arm |12 secured at one end of a cross shaft |14 supported by side frames 28 and 21. To the opposite end of shaft |14 is fastened a gear Segment |18 meshing with a pinion |18 loose on a stud |88 secured in frame 21 of the machine. Pinion |18 is attached to a sprocket |82 also free on stud |88, sprocket |82 being retained on stud |88 by collar |84. Arcuate slot |88 in armA |84 provides for an adjustment of rod |18 in order to increase or decrease the travel of gear segment |18, and consequently permit increasing or decreasing the amount of wrapping material fed. When the desiredv position is determined to accommodate the article being wrapped, rod |18 is locked in place by a lock nut |88. If desired, a graduated scale may be formed on arm |84 adjacent slot |88 to permit rapid adjustment of rod |18 according to length of Wrapper needed.

Feed roller |42, which is mounted on shaft |82, is driven in proper timed relation by sprocket |82 throughchain |88 running on sprocket |88 loosely mounted on shaft |92. Chain |88 also runs upon an idler sprocket |94 mounted on stud |98 carried by a lug |98 on side frame 21. -Feed rollers |42 and |44 do not operate until lifter table |40 arrives in its up position (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1). Lifter table |46 is moved between an article receiving station and an article delivery station by means of a cam 200 (Figure 5) having a track 202 tracked by cam follower 204 mounted on cam lever 206 (Figure 1) fulcrumed on a cross shaft 208 supported by the side frames 26, 21 of the machine.

rlhe opposite end of lever 206 is forked at 2I0 and pivotally connected to a head 2|2 having a threaded connecting member adjustably secured to a supporting unit 2|6 (see Figure 5). It is highly desirable to maintain the weight of the lifter table and its associated moving parts at a minimum in order to minimize vibrations and shock, especially at the end of the lifter table stroke at the receiving and delivery stations thereof. In order to obtain this result without sacrificing strength and long use, and in order to increase the efliciency of the lifter table mechanism, unit 2|6 which forms a part of the lifter table structure is formed of hollow tubes 2|8, 226 extending upwardly in diverging relationship from their point of connection with unit 2 I0 and a transverse stiffener tube 222 which is connected to tubes 2 I8, 220 together with angle pieces 224, 226 welded or otherwise secured together to form a frame connected by screws 221 to lug 228 situated at each end of the lifter table frame 236. The several tubes mentioned preferably are made of relatively light steel and provide a maximum of strength with a minimum of weight.

Studs 232 extending outwardly at each side of frame 236 (Figure 4) engage blocks 234 mounted for sliding up and down reciprocatory motion on substantially vertical stationary bars 236. A bar 236 is attached to each of the side frames 26, 21 (as shown in Figure 4). The lower ends of bars 236 are attached to lugs on side frames 26 and 21 by screws 231. The upper ends are attached in a similar manner by screws 239. In order to assure smooth functioning of lifter table |46 in its travel between its upper and lower limits or between article receiving and article delivery station, it is preferred to employ a spring 236 which is stretched between a lug 246 on cam lever 206 and a depending lug 242 on a bridge 244, described more in detail hereinafter.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, when the lifter table |46 is in its up or article delivery position (as shown in dotted lines), feed rollers |42 and |44 are set in motion and feed the leading end of the wrapping material onto a shelf 246. At this time a wrapper sheet relocating mechanism, which in the form illustrated consists of an upper set of feed rollers 248, is held in up position (shown in dotted lines) by means to be described hereinafter. As table |46 descends, rollers 248 are permitted to descend and engage with a coacting feed roller 250 and thereby clamp the advance portion of the wrapping material W which has been fed onto and along shelf 246. Table |46 on reaching its down position (as shown in full lines) has positioned the web W in the path of the incoming article A about to be enveloped.

-Articles A to be enveloped, for example loaves of bread, are conveyed over a table 25| at spaced intervals by suitable pusher bars 252 carried by transverse lugs 254 attached to spaced chains 256. A cross shaft 260 supported by the side frames of the machine, carries sprockets 262 driving chains 256.- Shaft 260A alsov carries a sprocket 264 over which runs a chain 266 driven from a sprocket 268 mounted on a stud 210 (see Figures 1 and 5). Sprocket 268 is clutched at 212 to the hub of a pinion 214 driven by a gear 216 fastened to the hub 218 of cam 280 secured to cam shaft 26. Stud 210 is carried by an arm 202 having a bearing 284 fitting loosely on cam shaft 20, the other end of arm 282 is secured to a boss 286 of a lug 288 depending from time frame 30.

Each article to be wrapped is advanced by a flight 252 onto a bridge 244 where it is positioned for delivery onto lifter table |46. An article A having reached a predetermined position on bridge 244 is then engaged by a pusher 290 which conveys the article onto the lifter table |46. Pusher 290 is in a raised position (as shown in dotted lines) when article A, to be wrapped, approaches bridge 244. Pusher 290 is formed by two spaced arms 292 (Figure 5) connected by a bar 294 fastened to arms 292 by screws 296. The center portion of bar 294 is provided with a cutout 298 to give clearance for the pusher in its operation. A plate 300 is attached to ,bar 294 and carries two protruding pins 302 adapted for locating the pusher plate 304 which engages articles A. Member 300 is provided with an aperture to receive a threaded stud 306 which is attached to plate 364, which is detachably secured to plate 294 by means of a wing nut 506. Each arm 292 pivotally connected to a rod 3m connecting to a forked head 3|2. One of the heads 2|2 is pivotally connected to cam lever 3m fulcrumed on cross shaft 3|6. Lever 3|4 is provided with a cam follower 3|8 running in a track 320 of cam 322. The other head 3|2 is connected to a cam lever 324 fulcrumed on shaft 3|6. Lever 324 is provided with a cam follower 326 running in a track 328 of cam 280. The above-described mechanism provides the up and down motion required by pusher 290 to perform its operation.

The reciprocating motion of pusher 290 longitudinally of the machine is effected by means of spaced levers 330 fastened on shaft 3|6. The upper end of levers 330 are connected by rod 332 to their respective arms 292 (as shown in Figure l). A cam lever 334 clamped on shaft 3|6 is equipped with a cam follower 336 running in a suitable track 338v of double cam 200 (as shown in Figure 5) Arms 292 are provided with cam followers 340 and 342 riding in a track 344 in their respective brackets 346 which have depending lugs 348 providing means for attaching the same to the side frames 26, 21 of the machine. Brackets 346 are provided with openings 350 permitting each of the rollers 340 to enter its respective track 344 when arms 292 at the end of its rearward stroke of plunger 350 descend from their up position and locate pusher 290 behind the next article to be delivered onto the lifter table. The forward end of each bracket 346 has a cut-out portion 352 which permits the rollers 340 to be lifted from the track at the end of the forward stroke of pusher 290 and ascend to clear the oncoming article being advanced by flights 252 towards -bridge 244.

Shortly before an article A being conveyed by pusher 290 onto lifter`table |46 engages the hanging wrapping material web W, supported between rollers 248, 250 and rollers |42, |44 on lifter table |46, a knife 354 (Figure 2) severs the wrapper underlying the U-shaped ledger block 356 mounted on the underside of lifter table |46.

Upon the completion of `the web severing, lap adjusting rollers 248 and 256 receive motion, by means to be presently described, and according to size of article being wrapped, and operating adjustments previously made, will move the sheet upwardly, advance the cut sheet along table 236, and thereby reposition the sheet for proper engagement by the article to be wrapped. The amount of movement of the cut sheet is gov erned by the position of an adjustable cam piece provided to disengage a pawl and ratchet mechanism which drives roller 256. This feature perznits means for varying the position of the final under lap of the wrapper in relation with the article. If a design is printed on the wrapper sheet, this mechanism makes it possible to adjust for the desired position of the printed matter relative to an article to be wrapped.

As mentioned hereinabove, it is extremely de sirable that the draped wrapper web, supported by the clamping rollers 248, 25|] and extending beneath guide rollers 351 mounted on lifter table |43 and between feed rollers |42, |34, be held as taut as possible in order to obtain the most cfcient V.type of out, especially in connection with the use of a serrated knife. In order to accomplish this result after the leading end of the wrapper web has been fed by feed rollers |42, |34 between rollers 248, 250, which are separated at that time, lifter table |46 starts to move to article receiving position, and as bumpers 336 travel downwardly therewith, bar 330 moves out of engagement with extension ears 392 of clamparms 333 whereupon clamping rollers 243 also move down and clamp the leading end portion of the wrapping material web against rollers 256. Also, as table |46 moves down, sprocket chain |83 is held stationary and acts as a racl; to turn feed rollers |42, |44 which pay out the wrapper' web previously fed by the auxiliary feed rollers 66, 63. When, therefore, lifter table ist reaches its lower limits of travel at article receiving position a wrapper sheet length of web draped properly relative to the next article to be wrapped. Since table |46 is so mounted that it inclines downwardly when located at ar ticle receiving position, tension is applied to the suspended portion of the wrapper web W.

When pusher 233 advances an article A towards the lifter table |46, a roller 358 (Figure l) on the pusher rides on a trip bar 363 depressing the same and causing a link 362 to operate a lever 364 and lift a cross bar 366 (see Figures 2 and 6) secured to arms of levers 364, 314 loosely supported by cross shaft 312 (Figure 6). The upward travel of bar 366 raises a plurality of arms 338 (Figure 6) thereby lifting rollers 243 from engagement with feed roller 253. The center arm 316 which is also equipped with a roller 246 retains its position in engagement with roller 253 maintaining a slight clamp on the hanging severed wrapper W. This feature relieves the possibilities of crushing or deforming articles of soft consistency during the enveloping stages. other arms of levers 334, 314. Arms 368 which are loosely mounted on shaft 312 are provided with U-'shaped clips 316 having elongated slots 318 (Figure 2) engaging the bar 366, the ascent of said bar thus lifts the arms 368 against the pressure of flat springs 386 attached to the bottom folding table 382 of the machine. Springs 336 are arranged (as shown in Figure 6) so as to engage each of the arms 358 and also arm 31|). Springs 333 normally hold the and A cross bar 261 is secured to the 10 their rollers 248 in thefdown or clamping position relative to roller 250.

An article A in approaching lifter table |46 engages the hanging Wrapper sheet W and presses it against a back tension plate 384 of conventional design. The continued forward movement of article A pushes plate 384 to a position shown in dotted lines (Figure 2). As a result of the movement of an article with wrapper sheet W onto lifter table |46, the 'first underfold of the wrapper is completed and the extending fron't end portions of the wrapper are folded by tuckers 386 against the ends of article A into flaps When article A has been located on lifter table |36, pusher arm 233 is returned a short distance and then gradually lifted to clear the succeeding article A on runway 25| and then moved back to its starting position (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1). During this time the lifter table has moved upwardly on stationary bars 236 to article delivery position where a partially wrapped article is ejected onto table 382.

As shown in Figure l, trip bar 360 supportsan extension 33| 'adjustably secured thereto by means of a wing nut 363. In this manner extension 33| can be located at the extreme position indicated in full lines in Figure 1 or with the free end'thereof closely adjacent the pvot point or connection of link 362 with trip bar 366. Hence, engagement of cam follower 358 with extension 36| of trip bar 363 causes lever 364 to rock and lift a majority of the clamping rollers 24S out of engagement with a wrapper sheet passing over roller 256. It is obvious when this condition prevails that the top portion of a wrapper sheet is supported by a single roller 316 in the path of travel of an article with the wrapper sheet onto lifter table |46.V At this time, therefore, a minimum of tension is exerted by the wrapper about the article being wrapped and the resulting packages may be termed loosely wrapped. When, however, extension 36| is adjusted to the left along trip arm 360 (as viewed in Figure l) an article to be wrapped engages and travels with the wrapper sheet onto lifter table |36, and at the same time the upper portion of the wrapper sheet is held by all of the `clamping rollers 238 against roller 256 until cam follower 353 engages extension 36| to rock rollers 243 out of coaction with rollers 256 whereupon the tension in the wrapper is decreased. Due to this operation, therwrapper is applied with greater tension about an article and a relatively tight wrap is obtained. It is obvious that when extension 36| is adjusted to its tight wrap limit adjacent pivot 368, the maximum amount of tension is applied to the wrapper about the article which results in the greatest degree vof tight wrap package.

rEhe upward travel of table |46 brings bumpers 3225 into engagement with the ends of a floating roller 333 (Figures 2 and 6) carrying the same into contact with the extending ears I392 of clamp arm 3i@ thereby raising roller 248 from engagement with its coacting roller 256. Bumpers 386, which preferably are formed of a shock absorbing material such as rubber, are mounted on projections 339 on the frame of lifter table M6. The nucd upward travel of lifter table |36 causes g roller 396 to engage the extending ears or clamp arms 363 which had been raised ,n viously by bar 336 in the manner described hereinabove.

The ends of floating roller 393 are mounted for movement in spaced U-shaped guide members 39|, one of which is attached to a bracket 383 fixed to the respective side frames 26 and 21. The flanges of each guide member 39| have a series of spaced holes 395 through which is inserted a pin extending through a stop piece 391 adjustably mounted in each of guide members 39|. In this manner stop piece 391 can be adjusted to arrest the descent of roller 390 in any desired position governed by the size of article to be wrapped.

Clamp arms 368 and 310 now being in raised position, the end portion of wrapper sheet is no longer clamped or held against the web W on shelf 246 and is free to be moved to complete the enveloping of the article being wrapped. With the lifter table in its uppermost position (as shown in dotted lines in Figures l and 2) the wrapper sheet has been folded almost completely about the article and spaced top end folder plates 394 located in the path of upward travel of articles A on lifter table |46 have formed end flaps II. The partially wrapped article still located on lifter table |46 is in a position to be acted upon by a top conveyor flight 488 which propels the article from the lifter table into the foldway.

Wrapper sheets W are cut from the web supply by knife 354 which is fastened to a transverse bar 396 carried by spaced arms 398 xed to a pivot shaft 400 supported by the side frames 26, 21 of the machine. A lever 402 fast on the shaft 400 is adjustably connected to one end of link 404, the other end of which is adjustably connected to arm 406 of a cam lever 401 fulcrumed on stud 42 (Figures 2 and 5). The other arm 468 of cam lever 401 carries a cam follower 4|0 running in a track 4|2 in cam 4|4 which is part of cam 286. When the cam follower 4| 0 engages the high portion 4|6 of the cam track 4 l2, motion is imparted to arms 398 raising knife 354 which with the aid of ledger block 356 on the underside of lifter table I 46 severs a wrapper sheet W from the supply issuing from the reel R.

Feed roller 250 preferably is hollow, in order to cut down weight, and insure straight line engagement with upper feed rollers 248. One end of roller 250 (Figure 4) is secured to the larger section of a shouldered stud 4|8: its opposite end is mounted in a similar manner on a shouldered stud 420. Intermittent motion is imparted to roller 250 by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism. A suitable driving mechanism consists of a combined gear 422 and arm 424 loose on stud 4|8 which is provided with a pawl 42 6 adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 428 secured on stud 4|6 (as shown in Figures 12 and 13 in enlarged scale). Pawl 426 has a tooth 430 engaging the teeth 432 of ratchet wheel 428. A roller 434 on Vpawl arm 426 is provided to disengage pawl tooth 430 from a ratchet tooth 432 when it encounters the cam surface 436 of an adjustable cam member 436 1ocated adjacent the face of side frame 26 and provided with a shouldered portion 440 fitting loosely in an aperture of frame 26. shouldered portion 440 serves as a bearing for stud 4|8 and also -serves to support an adjustable bracket 442, the latter being secured thereto by means of key 444. Bracket 442 is provided with an arcuate slotl 446 whereby the position of the cam surface 436 may be shifted in order to increase or decrease the feeding cycle of roller 250. When the desired position of the cam 436 is obtained, it is retained in place by tightening a thumb screw 448. Pawl 426 is normally held in engagement with its ratchet wheel by spring 450 having one end 12 anchored to a post 452 in the pawl and its other end anchored to a post 454 in arm 424.

Stud 426 has a threaded portion for a knurled nut 42| providing means for tensioning a spring 423 which is arrested between the nut and a disk 425 encircling stud 420 and urged by spring 423 against a fiber disk 421 on stud 420. A similar fiber disk 429 at the opposite end of roller 258 is placed between the hub of ratchet 428 and the flange of cam member 438. Fiber disks 421 and 428 are provided to serve as an additional clamp for roller 250.

Gear 422 receives intermittent motion from a gear segment 456 mounted on a stud 458 carried by the side fra-me 26 of the machine. Gear segment 456 is provided with an arm 460 supporting one end of a link 462 adjustably connected to arm 464 xed on shaft 406. Shaft 460 also supports loosely mounted hubs 466 which together with vertically extending hollow tubes 468 and a cross tube 410 forms a looper arm 412 adapted to engage the trailing end W of the wrapper sheet W depending from a partially wrapped article on lifter table |46 (see Figure 2). Arm 412 receives motion by means presently to be described, and travels forwardly to engage the free hanging end of the wrapper web W', which occurs at the time when lifter table |46 is at its upper or raised position andfeed rollers |42 and 44 commence to feed a new length of wrapping material onto shelf 246. In this manner, wrapper sheet end W is moved out of the path of the oncoming end of the wrapper web permitting the same to pass unobstructedly onto the shelf 246.

Arm 412 is actuated by means of adj ustabl studs 414 carried in extending ears 416 on lever 402 and arm 464, respectively. Stud 414 of each of the above mentioned members are so positioned as to be in the path of depending tails 418 on each of the hubs 466. Arm 412 is normally retained in its inactive position by means of springs 480 tending to hold the tube 410 against spaced stop members 462 mounted on the underside of foldway table 382. Cam 4|4 serves to impart the necessary motions required to actuate the knife 354, lap adjusting feed rollers 246 and 250, and looper arm 412. It will be seen that the knife severs the web W when the lifter table |46 is in its "down position. Therefore, the motion imparted to link 462 at this time causes the gear segment 456 to move in a non-feeding direction. Looper arm 412 remains motionless during this period as its operating studs 416 are moving away from the actuating tails 418. The continued rotation of cam 4 I4 causes the cam follower 4| 0 to engage a high portion of track portion 434 and thereby impart feeding motion to rollers 248 and 250. When this occurs, knife 354 moves downwardly and away from ledger plate 356 and the previously severed sheet; looper arm 412 still remains motionless as the travel of lever 402 and arm 464 is insufficient to cause studs 414 to bear against the move tails 418 of looper arm 412. When cam 4|4 brings its dipped track portion 486 into engagement with the cam follower 4|0, this motion causes the studs 414 to engage and bear against tails 418 and impart motion to arm 412 thus moving the hanging end W of the cut sheet out of the path of the incoming web being fed by the rollers |42 and |44 of lifter table |46 onto and along shelf 246. It will be understood that the table |46 is raised to its up position during the elapsed period of time it takes cam 4|4 to rotate so as to bring cam track portion 486 into engagement with cam follower 4|0. The movement of accesso arm 412 causes knife 354 to descend and the motion imparted to segment 455 results in turning pinion 422' idly as the upper set of feed rollers 248 are in their up position during this time. When the cam follower 41B again rides in the concentric portion of the track 412, looper arm 412 is returned to its starting position by the springs 485 (as shown in full lines in Figure 2).

When the lifter table i555 is in its up position, a partly enveloped article A (mentioned herein- 14 movement "of finger 5175 for clutching and unclutchling members 5.112, v5114. As lifter table 46 approaches its uppermost position (shown in above) is moved by a pusher 585 and conveyed into the final folding and sealing stations formed by a set of folder plates 495 and 492 of conventional design. The leading edge of plate 495 folds the extend-ing rear side Webs of the wrapper against the ends of article A to form end flap III and the extending bottom webs of the wrapper enter the space 45e between the folder plates whereby the final end folds IV of the wrapper are completed. Suitable heaters 49S are provided on members 490 and 452 to seal the end flaps of the wrapper. The final bottom fold of the wrapper is completed lprior to the formation of flaps III and IV when the extending web passes over the bottom folder ,plate 382. A suitable heater 458 is attached to the bottom folder plate 332 to seal the bottom flaps of the wrapper.

Feed roller 142 carried by lifter table E45 preferably is formed from hollow steel or other tubing in order to cut down onweight, and vibration, and to provide a roller having adequate strength and one free from bowing. Referring to Figures l, 2 and 4, hollow feed roller 142 at one end is attached to the hub of gear 55B on shaft 192.

Gear 550 meshes with a gear 552 fastened to a shaft 551i carried by a plurality of spaced arms 506 mounted on a shaft 558 mounted in end frame portions 230 of lifter table H46. Arms 555 at the ends Vof shaft 554 have projecting arms 55'! carrying a cross rod 559 (Figure 2) supporting one end of springs 5! 1 connected to a cross rod 513 of the lifter table frame. Springs 51 1 tend to normally hold the upper rollers 144 in web feeding engagement with their coacting feed roller 142.

Arms 55'! when depressed manually provide n;

means for lifting rollers 154 fixed to shaft 554 out of feeding cooperation with roller 142 in order to facilitate threading of the wrapper web.

Gear 555 is provided with a one-direction clutch 515 provided to insure that the web W will remain clamped between the feed rollers M2 and 44 when table E55 moves to vits fup position. The upward motion of table 55 causes the rollers to pull the slack wrapper or oating roller 135 upward. Roller 142 is driven by and in proper timed relationship with the operation of the machine by means of a clutch mechanism, designated generally 513. A toothed clutch member 512 is secured to the other end4 of roller 142, as by welding, or any other suitable means. Clutch member 512 is adapted to be engaged by a movable toothed member 515x slidably mounted on and secured to the hub of sprocket 155. Each time table 146 arrives at its lowermost position, a iinger 515 engages an adjustable stop screw 518 (Figures 2, 4 and 9) and` clutch throw-'out arm 525 is swung to disengage clutch member 514 from member 512. Finger 515 is attached to a square section 522 of a stud 525 supported in a boss on clutch 514 on throw-out arm` 52o. Arm 525 is loosely mounted on a stationary stud 526 supported in arms 528 depending from lifter table frame 230. An opening4 535 is provided in lifter table frame 235 to allow the necessary fio 55e. Isecured on a stud 554 and over idler sprockets '1and3).

.dotted lines in Figure 1.), finger 5l@ strikes againstan adjustablestop screw 532 mounted on lever 55B, and so adjusted that clutch 513 is thrown in at the proper time as the lifter table 146- moves upwardly in its uppermost position. With clutch .parts 512, 5i4 in engagement, cam actuated-gear segment 116 is operated, chain 155 and sprocket 190.011 which chain 182 runs, cause feed rollers E42 4and 144 to rotate and feed wrapping material W from the supply between a plurality `of spaced upper and lower stripper members 535-, 535, respectively, which prevent the web passing therebetween from curling about either` of rollers E42, 1441. This. feature is of special value when a waxed material, vsuch as waxed paper is being fed.

The advancing end of the web passes over bridge consisting of a plurality of spaced strips '5135 (Figure 6) fastened to a support member 552 mounted on and extending transversely of lifter table '1125. A rol-ler 515 on clutch operating arm 525 is engaged by a lock spring 521 mounted on and projecting from lifter table frame 232. Engagement of rollers 519 with one portion or an other of spring 521 locks clutch member 5M. either inoperative or inoperative position relative to clutch member 5.12 secured to roller 142.

The advancing end of the web then passes over the feed roller 255 beneath rollers 243 which. are raised at this time, and onto shelf 245 which preferably consists or a plurality of spaced strips 552 (Figure 6) attached to a transverse supporting bar 544, fastened to spaced blocks supH ported by shaft 3'52. The upper end of blocks 555 carry the folder plate 382 which makes the final bottom fold, and `along which an article being Wrapped is moved between folders il, 552. At the conclusion Aof the web feeding operation of rollers 142, 144 when a predetermined length of web has been fed from the supply and the leading end portion is on shelf 245, table E55 descends permitting rollers 248 to descend and clamp the web against roller '255. During the descent of table 155, chain 153 is stationary and acts as a rack relative to sprocket 150, therefore, rollers M2 and [44 do not feed additional web but merely pay out web which has been pulled from supply roll R previously and drape it in the path of travel of the next article A to be wrapped.

The pusher plate 488 which conveys a partially wrapped loaf along plate 382 and between folders 455, 452, is supported at its opposite ends by arms 545 fixed to each of the spaced conveyor chains Chains 555 pass over driven sprockets 552 556 mounted on a shaft 558. The studs 554 and 553 are supported by the side frames 26, 2l of machine. A gear segment 560 mounted on fulcrum stud 562 supported by side frame 25 meshes with a pinion 554 on stud 554. A link 565 is connected to an extension on segment 555 and to a cam lever 568 fulcrumed on stud 162 (Figures Cam lever 558 is provided with a cam follower 510 running in a track 5'12 of double cam 322 in order to produce a to and fro motion to chains 550.

A no-article, no-wrapper device preferably is incorporated in the infeed conveyor runway to prevent the paper feed from operating when a miss occurs in the flow of articles entering the machine. A satisfactory mechanism for accomplishing this purpose consists of a pivotally mounted trip iinger 514 projecting upwardly into the path of movement of incoming articles. Finger 514 preferably is located midway between side frames 26, 21 in the path of travel of articles into the machine, although it can be located at any other transverse position so long as it is positioned for ready engagement by articles to be wrapped. Finger 514 is mounted on a pivot shaft 516 to which is secured (Figure 1) an actuating arm 518 having connected thereto one end of a link 588 which in turn is connected to an arm 582 of a bell crank lever 583 fulcrumed on a stud 584 on side frame 21. The other arm 586 of bell crank lever 563 (Figures 2 and 3) is pivotally connected to a link 588 connected to an arm 590 fulcrumed on a stud 592 carried by the side frame 21 of the machine. Arm 590 is provided with a downwardly extending stop screw 532, previously mentioned, adapted to couple clutch parts 5|2, 5|4 in order to drive rollers |42, |44. During normal operation of the machine, when lifter table |46 ascends and approaches its uppermost position, with an article A, the succeeding article passes over and depresses finger 514 which causes arm 592 to rock and position adjustable set screw 532 in the path of ascending finger 5|6 which throws in driving clutch 5|2, 5|4 of roller |42. When lifter table |46 descends, and finger 5|6 is moved out of engagement with screw 532, a spring 594 relocates finger 514 in an upright position relative to table through which it projects in readiness to be engaged by a succeeding article moved by a conveyor flight 252 along table 25|. Spring 594 is fastened at its ends to posts 596 and 598, the former being supported in arm 586 of bell crank lever 583; the latter being carried by a stationary bar 600 attached to frame 21. Spring 594 in resetting finger 514 causes arm 590 to swing and move stop screw 532 from engagement with stop pin 602 to a position against a stop pin 664. Stop pins 602 and 604 which extend into the path oi stop screw 532 on arm 590 are secured to the side frame 21 of the machine.

When a skip occurs in the feeding of the articles, trip iinger 514 remains in its upright position holding the stop screw 532 against stop pin 684. Therefore, when lifter table |46 reaches its uppermost position, clutch driving members 5|2, 5|4 remain uncoupled since screw 532 is posii tioned out of the path of clutch reset finger 5|6. Hence, in this cycle of operations, no wrapper is fed by rollers |42, |44 onto shelf 246. This condition continues until an article being moved along table 25| by a flight 252 of conveyor 256 again engages and trips finger 514 which projects upwardly through an opening in table 25| whereby stop screw 532 is moved into the path of finger 5|6 for swinging clutch yoke 529 to engage clutch driving members 5|2, 5|4.

Any suitable delivery mechanism can be employed for removing wrapped articles from the machine. In the machine illustrated, the takeoff or delivery conveying mechanism is equipped with a speed adjusting device which makes it possible to run the conveyor either fast or slow, depending upon the size of articles being wrapped. The range of the machine is such that articles ranging, say from eight and one-half inches down to three inches in width, can be hfrapped. In the case of the larger articles, the coveyor mechanism is designed to move the wrapped-sealed packages out of the machine faster than pusher 488 pushes articles being wrapped between the folders. That is, when package P pushes package P from between plates 492, the latter is moved forwardly at a relatively high rate of speed by belts 606, 6|6 as compared with the movement of pusher 488, and is separated from package P. However, if in the case of relatively small articles, such as the normal or average size loaf of bread produced in high production today which is about four inches wide, it is obvious that if the high speed just described were employed, packages would not be satisfactorily spaced on conveyor belt 6|0 between side belts 666 because this size of article would be moved out of the machine too rapidly without taking full advantage of valuable cooling space available. For this reason I have provided an adjusting device which makes it possible to drive the conveying belts 606, 6|0 at a second or slow speed when articles with a width of five nches or less are being wrapped. This speed allows more time for cooling the hot end seals of wrapped packages.

Pusher 488 which propels partially wrapped packages from lifter table |46, advances the same onto a bottom folder and supporting plate 382 and between spaced end folders and sealing means 490, 492, as described hereinbefore. Each article moved by pusher 488 is advanced to a position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, after which the pusher 488 retreats to the full line position shown in Figure 1 awaiting the delivery of a new article into the range 0f operation of the pusher by lifter table |46. In known manner, as each partially wrapped article is removed by pusher 488 from lifter table |46, back tension plate 384 is engaged by pusher 466 and moved forwardly to the full line position (indicated in Figure 2) where it remains until the next article moved against a draped wrapper sheet onto lifter table |46 pushes it back to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Large wrapped and sealed articles remain at the discharge end of folder plates 492 which permits further heat sealing of the nal or bottom end folders IV. Each succeeding package delivered to this position advances the last delivered package so that continued operation of pusher 488 results in a stream of wrapped packages moving from end folders 490, Sealers 492 between belts 606 of the take-off conveyor.

The delivery conveyor consists of two spaced endless belts 606 and 608 which may be adjusted to and from each other by suitable conventional means (not shown), and a bottom belt 6|8 all of which are driven from cam shaft 28 of the machine by means to be described. A sprocket 6|2 (Figures 1 and 5), secured to cam shaft drives a chain 6| 4 running over a sprocket 6|@ loosely mounted on a shaft 6|8 supported in side frames 26, 21. A gear 620 which may be a part of sprocket 6|6 (as shown in Figures 7 and 8) meshes with a gear 622 mounted on a stud 624 supported in arm 626 of a bell crank lever 625. Gear 622 meshes with 'gear 628 fast on shaft 630 driving a pulley 632 over which runs one loop of the bottom conveyor belt 6|6. An arm 660 secured to one end of shaft GIB provides means for disengaging the drive mentioned, and by shifting the position of arm 660 a secondary set of gears is set in motion to drive the conveyor at a reduced or slower speed. This is accomplished by pulling knob 662 of a spring loaded stud 664 and freeing the end of stud 664 from engagement with an aperture 666 in frame 26. The arm 660 thus freed is moved and stud 664 eventually snaps into an aperture 668 also promooseevided, in fratrieV 2.6. This new position of arm 660 results in thel disengagement of the driving gears 62,2-, 62,8. The swinging of arm 660 causes shaft 6 I8 to swing the bell crank lever 625 and its verti. cally extending arm (ill)y carries gear 612 mounts edA thereon into engagement With gear (ST4 mounted on shaft 63D. The meshing of gears 612 and 614 imparts drivingmotion to the takeoff conveyor at a reduced speed.

The invention above. described may be varied inc construction within the scope of the claims, for the particmar'device, selected to umstrate the invention, is but one of many possible concrete. embodiments of the sameit is not, therefore, to be restricted .to ,the 'precisedetails of thel structure shown and described.

What Iclaimis:

71,. In a Wrapping .machine having an article lifter table adapted ltobe moved to and'from an .article receiving station and an articlel delivery station, `vveb feeding. 'mechanism. carrie-d by- .sad lifter table, andlmeans for driving said mechanism to feed a length oi" wrappingv material relative tosaid table.,

2. In a Wrapping machine having an article lifter table adapted to `be moved to and. from an. article receiving'station,A and .an articleA delivery station, VWeb feeding mechanism carried by said-` lifter table.. and means for intermittentl'yr driving said mechanism to feed lengths oijvvrapE ping material relative to said table.

ya .wrapping mach-inc, having an article litteriabloadapiedio be. moved to andirom an article-receiving, station, and an article, delivery station. web feeding. mechanism carried by said lifter. tablemeans for intermittently driving said mechanism to feedlenfgths` of. wrapping material relative to said table., anl auxiliary web feeding me.clranisnlk `for pulling. Wrapper material .from a source of sunplyiorldoliverv t Said first-named mechanism. and; moans `iorinoapacitating said auxiliary-web ieodine mec,liar1-is1f1` when a prede terminent quantity oi web Yhas-boon pulled irom Saidsu-pioly'- .aina-wrapping machine having .an ariiole 1ifter--tab1eadantedto bemovodto and from; an article, vreceivingy station,- and; arr article deliver-v station, web feeding.' mechanism oarrioolby said lifter tabla` means ior intermittently driving Said mechanism ,to feedlengths of wrapping material relative to said table, an auxiliary web feeding mechanism for pulling Wrapper? material from a Source .of supply for deliveryy tozsaiidV .first-named mechanism.means for' ineapacitating-.said anx-,e iliary web feeding; mechanism when a .predetermined quanttyof-webhas-boen pulled. from Said supply, -and article operated control-moans for inf :apacitatingv said. firstenamed web .feeding mechanism.

5. In..awrappingfmachine. havingan article lifter-'table Vadapted tobe moved to and from an-v` article.receivingr `station and an article delivering station, said lifter table comprising an article supporting surface, and a Web feeding mechanism mounted on said lifter table, and means for driving said mechanism" tok feed va length` (of-` Wrapping-V material beneath saidv sur-- face;

' 6"; In a Wrapping` machine, alifter table providedl with an article supporting surface, "web feeding-` mechanism mounted on' said table `belneath saidA surface, mechanism forinovingv said lifterY table to and. from. an. article'. receiving staition.` and an; articlezdelivery station, a Web-holdinmdevicandmeans forrdri-.vingsaid web feed-- ing mechanism to advance the leading end of a webofwllpping material beneath said surface to said device.

7. In a, Wrapping machine, a lifter table pro.- vided. with an article supporting surface, weby feeding mechanism carried` by said lifter table, said Web feeding mechanism including a pair of feed rollers, a web clamping device, means for movingl said lifter table to and' froman article receiving. station and anarticle delivery station, and meansv for driving said .web feeding rollers:

to advance the leading end of a Web 'of Wrappingmaterallbeneath said surface to said device.

8. In a Wrapping machineJ a liftertable provided with an article supportingsnrface, vveb feeding mechanism carried by said lifter table;

said web feeding mechanism including' a pair' of feed rollers, a web clamping, device, means for moving Isaidj lifter table to and from arl-'article receiving station and an article delivery station.

strippers coacting with saidV rollers for prevent'-V ingsaid Web from adhering, to? saidrollers, and' means for driving said web fee'ding rollers to adi; Vance the; leading endl offa web of Wrapping' inaternal beneath said surface to said device.

9. In av wrapping machine, a lifter4 table pro-v vided with an article supporting surface, web

feedingmechanism carriedL by said' lifter',table,I

said' [web ,feeding mechaism including! a' pair of feedm11ers,aweb supporting device',s,meai;s for moving said. lifter table 'toi and.' 'from an' article ,receivi'ng station. and an' article delivery station, af web feeding mechanism control, Vrr'ieans mounting 'said control ijn the patri 'or movement of said; lifter tatie to. article delivery "position, and'. an. arm carried by said lifter table positioned to` eng-age said' control for operatingsaid web feeding mechanism to drive said rollers and to effect the feedof a length of'Web` to saidsup porting device.

10. Ina Wrapping machine; a lifter table Yprof videa'with an' article Supporting, sur-face, wiet feeding mechanism carried by said. iifter'tati,

saidlvveb feeding 'mechanism including` a pair Yof feed rollers, `a web suporting: device,- rneansl for movingsaid. lifter table to 'and' from an article receiving station andan4 article delivery' s'tatiori a web feeding mechanism contro-L means mount# ingsaidlcontrol inf` the path ofInov'ement of said lifter .tablev to article delivery positiom an arin carried by Saidlifter table DOStioriedto engage said .control for operating saijdrweblfeeding. mechanismto drive said: muere and tozeffect, mefeed of .of-length. @vf-web ifo said supporting. device. and means for moving said' control out of the path of. saidl arm Ito `incapact'ateV said' mechanism if an articlefails to4 advance ntosaid'inachine for delivery to .saidllifter table at' s aid receiving station. i

1.1. In. a. wrapper machine, a liftertableprovided. with 'an mime supporting" surface, 'web feeding mechanism Carriedbv Said table; said mechanism includingA a. driving roller and" 4a drivenroller, a rst clntchmember mounted on saiddriving roller, a secdndclutch member movel able intoandout of driving,en,e1-agement' with said clutch member, and .meansoperative-by movement of Said lifter table io ari article de"- liverv station for moving; said seoond sluit-.ChA

feedngmechanismcarried by said table, said' mechanism including a driving roller and a driven roller, a first clutch member mounted on said driving roller, a second clutch member movable into and out of driving engagement with said first clutch member, means operative by movement of said lifter table to an article delivery station for moving said second clutch member into driving relation with said first clutch member, a sprocket attached to said second clutch member, a sprocket chain running on said sprocket, means for driving said sprocket during a portion of each cycle of said machine when said first and second clutch members are engaged to feed a predetermined length of paper relative to said surface, and means for uncoupling said clutch members when said lifter table moves to an article receiving position.

13. In a wrapping machine having an article lifter table adapted to be moved to and from an article receiving station and an article auxiliary station, web feeding mechanism carried by said lifter table, means for driving said mechanism to feed a length of wrapping material relative to said table, a conveyor for feeding articles to be wrapped into said machine for delivery onto said lifter table, an article detecting device mounted in the path of movement of articles into said machine, and means under control of said device for incapacitating said web feeding mechanism whenever a skip occurs in a succesf sion of articles being fed by said conveyor.

14. In a wrapping machine having an article lifter table adapted to be moved to and from an article receiving station and an article delivery station, web feeding mechanism carried l by said lifter table, means for driving said mechanism, and a detector device located adjacent said article delivery station for operating said means to feed a length of web.

15. In a wrapping machine provided with an article lifter table adapted to be moved back and forth between an article receiving and an article delivery station, a web receiving mechanism located adjacent said delivery station, a web feeding device carried by said lifter table, and means for driving said device to feed a length of wrapping material to said mechanism.

16. In a Wrapping machine provided with an article lifter table adapted to be moved between an article receiving and an article rdelivery station, a web receiving mechanism vadjacent said delivery station, a web feeding device carried by said lifter table, means for driving said device to feed a length of wrapping material to said mechanism, and means for operating said mechanism to clamp a portion of said wrapper advanced by said device into said mechanism.

17. In a wrapping machine provided with an article lifter table adapted to be moved between an article receiving and an article delivery station, a web receiving shelf adjacent said delivery station, web feeding mechanism carried by said lifter table, means for driving said mechanism to feed a length of Wrapping material onto said shelf, paper clamps mounted above said shelf, means for moving said clamps to clamp a portion of said Wrapper advanced onto said shelf and hold said wrapper draped in the path of travel of articles onto said lifter table, and means for cutting said draped portion of said wrapper from said web.

18. In a wrapping machine provided with an article lifter table adapted to be moved between an article receiving and an article delivery station, a web receiving shelf adjacent said delivery 20 station, web feeding mechanism carried by said lifter table, means for driving said mechanism'to feed to length of wrapping material onto said shelf, means for moving said table to said receiv- 1 ing station and draping a Wrapper in the path of travel of an article onto said lifter table, means for cutting said draped portion of said wrapper from said web, and means for repositioning said Wrapper sheet prior to the association of an article to be wrapped with said sheet.

19. In a wrapping machine having an article lifter table adapted to be moved to and from an article receiving station and an article delivery station, web feeding mechanism carried by said lifter table, a wrapper receiving shelf located adjacent said article delivery station, means for driving said mechanism when said lifter table is located at said delivery station, clamping means for holding the end of a wrapper web fed by said mechanism upon said shelf, means for lowering said lifter table to drape a predetermined portion of said wrapper web in the path of travel of an article onto said lifter table, means for cutting said draped portion of said web from said supply and thereby providing a wrapper sheet for the next article to be wrapped, and means for actuating said clamping means to relocate said wrapper sheet for proper engagement by said article prior to the movement of said article onto said lifter table.

20. In a wrapping machine, a wrapper support constructed and arranged to support the leading end portion of a stationary cut wrapper sheet, means for holding said leading end portion of said wrapper sheet on said support with the trailing end portion of said Wrapper depending therefrom in a substantially vertical plane, web feeding means associated with said last named means, mechanism for driving said last-named means to feed said leading end of said sheet a predetermined distance along said support to relocate said leading end of said sheet thereon and reposition said depending trailing end relative to the path of movement of an article into engagement therewith, means for adjusting said mechanism to control the amount of movement of said leading end of said sheet by said web feeding means along said support, an article conveyor, and

means for actuating said conveyor to advance said article into engagement with said relocated sheet.

21. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with an article lifter table movable between article receiving and article delivery station, a wrapper support located between said stations, mechanism for feeding the leading end portion of a web` of wrapping material beneath said Alifter table and onto said support, mechanism for holding said leading end portion of said wrapping material on said support, said mechanism including a pair of coacting web feeding rollers, means for lowering said lifter table to drape said wrapper web in the path of travel of an article onto said table, means for separating the draped portion of said wrapper web from said supply to form a substantially vertically positioned Wrapper sheet, means for driving said pair of rollers to move said leading end portion of said sheet along said support and lift said wrapper sheet and locate the bottom edge thereof in a predetermined position relative to an article to be wrapped, a pusher for pushing an article to be wrapped against said draped repositioned wrapper sheet and onto said lifter table, and means 21' for operating said pusher subsequent to the operation `oi? said `last-named means.

22. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with an article lifter table movable between article receiving and article delivery station, a wrapper support located between said stations, Vmechanism for feeding the leading end portion of webl of wrapping material beneath said lifter table and onto lsaid support, mechanism for holding said portion of vsaid wrapping material on said support, said mechanism including a pair of coacting upper and lower feeding rollers, means for moving said upper rollers towards said lower rollers to engage and hold said portion vof saidweb. `means for lowering said table to drape said web in the path of travel of an article onto said table, means forV separating the draped portion of said web from said Supply to form a wrapper-sheet, means for driving said rollers to lift said sheet, means for moving some of said upper rollers out of holding engagement with said sheet to minimize the constrictive force applied to an article advanced with said sheet onto said table, and means for subsequently moving the remainder of said upper rollers vout of engagementfwi'th saidv sheet as said lifter table appreaches said delivery station.

2'3.A In a wrapping machine of the type provided with an article lifter table movable between article receiving and article delivery stations, a wrapper support located between said stations, mechanism for feeding the leading end portion of web' of wrapping material beneath said lifter table and onto `said support, mechanism for holding said portion of said wrapping material on said support, said mechanism including a pair of coacting upper and lower feeding rollers, means forl moving said upper rollers towards said lower rollers to engage and hold said portion of said web, means for lowering said table to drape said web in-the path of travel of an'article onto said table, means for separating'the draped portion of said web from said supply to form a wrapper sheet, means `for driving said rollers to lift said sheet, means f or'moving some of said upper "rollers out of holdingengagement with said sheet to minimize the constrictive force applied to an article advanced with said sheet onto said table, means for subsequently moving the remainder of said'uppe'r rollers out of engagement with said sheet as said lifter table approaches said delivery station, and means operative when said lifter table-is located at said delivery station for displacing said portion of said wrapper sheet out of the path of travel of said leading end of said web.

`24. In-a wrapping machine of the type provided with a lifter table adapted to move between an article receiving and an article delivering station, means for supporting a wrapper draped in the path of movement of an article onto'said lifter table, 'means for supporting a portion of said draped wrapper'sheet above said article receiving station, said last-named means including web feeding mechanism for moving saidwrapper sheet upwardly relative to said lifter table when v"the latter is at 'said article receiving station. to properly Vlocate the bottom portion of 4said wrapper sheet for wrapping about said article, 'and mechanism for operating said lastnamed means prior to the engagement of an article with'said wrapper sheet.

25. In awrapping machine of the type having an article lifter table and means for moving said table between an article receiving station and an article delivery station, awra'pper supporting their intatta between said stations ami-adjacent the path of travel of said table, a driving feed roller mounted adjacent an edge of' said shelf constructed and arranged toengage the undersurface of the leading end portion of a wrapper sheet extending downwardly in a substantially vertical plane, movable coacting. wrapper clamping rollersadapted to Vengage the upper `surface of said leading `end portion of said downwardly extending wrapper sheet and press the same against said driving roller, means for -d-rving said driving roller to move said wrapper vsheet a predetermined distance upwardly and advance said leading endportion along said shelf, and thereby reposition the'bottom edge of said downwardly extending wrapper relative to an article to be enwrapped therein, and means operative subsequent to the operation of said last-named means for moving said article into engagement with said repositioned sheet.

'26, In a wrapping machine of the type having an article lifter table andmeans formoving said table between an article receiving 'station and an article delivery station, a wrapper supporting shelf locatedbetween said stations and adjacent the path of travel of said table, clamping means carried by said shelf for holding a portion of a wrapper extending downwardly into 'the path of travel of anarticle on said lifter tabie. said last-named means including a driving feed roller mounted adjacent'an edge of said shelf constructed and arranged to engage the undersurface' of said wrappers'heet, movable coacting wrapper clamping rollers movable into engagementwith the upper surface of awrapper sheet forholding the same against said driving roller,

means for driving said driving roller to feed said wrapper sheet a predetermined distance upwardly'and along said shelf, means for moving selected clamping rollers away from said driving roller prior to the engagement of an article moving onto said lifter table with Vsaid wrapperfsheet to control the tension von said wrapper sheet about the article being wrapped.

27. In a wrapping machine of the type having an article lifter table and means for moving saidtable between an article receiving station and an article delivery station,a wrapper supporting shelf located between said station and adjacent the path of travel of said table, clamping means carried by said shelf for clamping the top portion Voi a wrapper extending downwardlyinto the'path of travel of an article von said lifter table, said last-named means including a'driving feedroller mounted adjacent an edge of said shelf constructed and arranged toengage the undersurface of a wrapped sheet, and movable coa'cting wrapper clamping rollers adapted to engage the upper surface of a wrapper 'sheet and press the same against said driving roller; means'for driving'said driving roller to feed said wrapper sheet a predetermined distance upwardly and along said shelf, means for moving selected clamping rollers away from said driving roller prior tothe engagement of an article moving onto said lifter table with said wrapper sheet to control4 thetension on said wrapper sheetrelativeto theiarticle being wrapped, a transverse rod, means mounting saidrod for movement intoand Yout of'enga'gement with the supports of said clamping rollers, and means carried by said lifter table constructed and arranged to engage said rod and lift said rod for 'freeing said wrapper sheet from engagement by said rollers.

28. In a wrapping machine of the ltype prostation and an article delivery station, means for deliverying an article with a wrapper onto said lifter table and partially wrapping said wrapper about said article, means for moving said lifter table with said partially wrapped article to said delivery station wherein a portion of said wrapper extends downwardly beneath said lifter table, wrapper web feeding mechanism mounted on said lifter table, means for driving said mechanism when said lifter table is located at said article delivering station, and means for displacing said downwardly extending portion of said wrapper out of the path of travel of theadvancing wrapper web being fed by said mechanism.

29. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with an article lifter table and means for moving said -table between an article receiving station and an article delivery station, means for delivering an article with a wrapper onto said lifter table and partially wrapping said wrapper about said article, means for moving said lifter table with said partially wrapped article to said delivery station wherein a portion of said wrapper extends downwardly beneath said lifter table, wrapper web feeding mechanism mounted on said lifter table, means for driving said mechanism while said lifter table is located at said article delivery station, means for displacing said downwardly extending portion of said wrapper out of the path of travel of the advancing wrapper web being fed by said mechanism, a device for receiving the advancing end of said wrapper web and for clamping said end against movement relative to said lifter table whereby as said lifter table moves to article receiving position the web is draped in the path of travel of said article onto said lifter table, and means for cutting said draped portion of said web from said supply to form awrapper sheet.

30. A paper feeding device for a wrapping machine comprising wrapper gripping means, means for operating said grippers to grip and hold the leading end portion of a wrapper web, means for draping a length of said web in a substantially vertical plane, means for cutting a wrapper o predetermined length from said draped web, and means for moving said gripping means to lift said cut length in a substantially vertical direction upwardly to reposition said draped cut wrapper in; the path of travel of an article to be wrapped, said last-named means being constructed and arranged to reposition said wrapper priorgto its engagement with an article to be wrapped, and means for moving said article into engagement with said repositioned wrapper.

3l. A paper feeding device for a wrapping machine comprising coacting web feedingv rollers, means for advancing the leading end of a wrapper between said rollers, means for effecting relative clamping movement between said rollers to grip and hold said advancing end of said wrapper web, means for draping said Wrapper in the path of travel of an article to be wrapped, means for cutting a predetermined length from said draped wrapper web, means for driving said feed rollers to feed said cut length vertically and reposition the bottom end portion thereof relative to the path of travel of an article, and means for moving an article against said repositioned sheet to partially enwrap said article therein.

32. A paper feeding device for a wrapping machine comprising coacting web feeding rollers, means for advancing the leading end of a wrapper between said rollers, means for effecting relativeV clamping movement between'said rollers to grip and hold said advancing end of said wrapper web, means for draping said wrapper in the path of travel of an article to be wrapped, means for cutting a predetermined length from said draped wrapper web, means for driving said feed rollers to lift said cut length vertically and reposition the bottom end portion thereof relative to the path of travel of said article, means for moving said article against said repositioned sheet to partially enwrap said article therein, and means for adjusting the operation of said feeding mechanism for limiting the amount of repositioning movement of said length.

33. A support for a wrapper sheet suspended in the path of travel of an article to be wrapped. a plurality of devices for clamping a top portion of said sheet, means for moving some of said devices out of clamping engagement with said portion of said web prior to the movement of said article against said sheet, and means for moving the remaining clamping devices out of engagement with said web portion when said wrapper is substantially encircled about said article.

34. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with a lifter table adapted to move between an article delivery station and an article receiving station, a wrapper support, an article supporting surface on said lifter table, a web feeding couple mounted on said table beneath said sur.- face, and means for periodically driving said couple to feed a predetermined length of web beneath said surface to deliver a portion of the advancing end of said wrapper onto said support.

35. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with a lifter table adapted to move between an article delivery station and an article receiving station, a wrapper support, an article supporting surface on said lifter table, a web feeding couple mounted on said table beneath said surface, means for periodically driving said couple to feed a predetermined length of web beneath said surface to deliver a portion of the advancing end of said web onto said support, means for cutting a wrapper sheet from said web, and means on said support for feeding an additional portion of said out sheet along said support.

36. A web feeding mechanism for a wrapping machine comprising a device for pulling web from a reel supply, a pair of feed rolls mountedon a traveling member, means for moving said member up and down between fixed limits, means for operating said pair of feed rolls when said member is positioned at its upper limit of movement, and means for simultaneously operating said device to pull web from said reel and deliver the same to said feed rolls.

37. A web feeding mechanism for a wrapping machine comprising a device for pulling web from a reel supply, a pair of feed rolls mounted on a traveling member, means for moving said member up and down between fixed limits, means for operating said pair of feed rolls when said member is positioned at its upper limit of movement,

means for simultaneously operating said device to deliver web pulled from said reel to said feed' rolls, and means for stopping the operation of bei. means moving said member up and *down* :between fixed limits, .means for .operating said pair -rof feedrolls to feed apredetermined length of web when said member is at its upper limit, means ,for Asimultaneously operating said device to :make-available web to be fed by said feedrolls, andmeans operated by said slack roller for incapacitating said device when a predetermined .quantity lof slack web has been provided.

39.\In a wrapping machine, a support for a wrapper sheet suspended in the path .of travel of .an article to be enwrappedtherein,.devices for `clampinga portion of said sheet on said support, .and means for progressively .removing said clamping .devices 4from clamping engagement with :said support.

-40. .In Va wrapping machine, -a support for a wrappersheetsuspended inthe path of travel .of anarticle to .be .enwrapped therein, a plurality of devices for clamping a portion of said sheet on said support, means for removing selected .devices from engagement with said portion `oi. ysaid sheet, and other .means operative subsequently for .moving other clamping devices from clamping engagement with said sheet.

41. In a wrapping machine, a web holding defvice, web feeding mechanism for advancing the leading end portion of a web of wrapping material into said holding device, an auxiliary web feedingmechanism for pulling web material from a source of supply for delivery to said firstnamed mechanism, a vmovably `mounted slack rollerlocated between said first-named web feeding .mechanism and said auxiliary web feeding mechanism, means for driving said first-.named web feeding mechanism to feed a predetermined length of web to said device, said slack roller being raised during the feeding operation of said first-named web feeding mechanism, means for driving :said auxiliary web feeding mechanism to continue the feed of web material from said `reel, Aand means operated by said slack roller for stopping the operation of said auxiliary web feeding mechanism when a predetermined amount of .slack has been pulled from said Ysource of supply.

42. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with a lifter table 'adapted to move between an article delivery station and an article receiving station, a wrapper support, an article supporting surface on said lifter table, a web feeding couple mounted `on said table beneath `said surface, and -means for periodically driving 4said couple'to feed a predetermined length of web beneath said surface, and deliver a portion of the advancing end 'of said wrapper onto said support.

43. In 'a wrapping machine of the type Yprovided With a lifter table adapted'to 'move between an article delivery station and an article `receiv- `ing station, a wrapper support, an article .supporting surface on said lifter table, a web feeding couple mounted on said table vbeneath said surface, means for periodically driving said 'couple to feed a predetermined'length of vweb beneath said surface, and deliver a portion of the 'advancing end of said wrapper ontosaid support,

meansfor cutting a length of material vfrom said Lweb, andmeans for repositioning said vlength of material on said support.

`44a In a wrapping machine `having an 'article 4lifftertable adapted to be vmoved :to Aand from an article receiving lstation and an article delivery station, web feeding mechanism carried by said lifter table, means for driving said mechanism to 'feed a length of wrapping material relative to said table, aconveyor for delivering articles to bewrappedto said .receiving station, and larticle controlled .mechanism for preventing operation of said driving means when an article fails to arrive at said .receiving station.

45. A web feeding mechanism for a wrapping machine .comprising a device for pulling a web froma source of supply, a traveling article carrying member, web feeding means carried on said member, means for moving said member between an article receiving station and an article delivery station, means for operating said web feeding means when said member is located at `.said delivery station, vmeans for operating said device to .deliver web to said web feeding means, a conveyor fordeliveringarticles .to be Wrapped to .said receiving station, and a control device .for

preventing the operation `of .said web feeding means when an article fails .to arrive at said receiving station.

46. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with an article lifter table, and means for moving said table between an article Vreceiving station. .and an article delivery station, asource of supply of wrapper web material, means for delivering an article with a wrapper onto said lifter table and partially wrapping said wrapper about said article, means for moving said lifter table with said partially Wrapped article to said delivery station wherein a portion of said wrapper extends downwardly beneath said lifter table, Wrapper web feeding mechanism mounted onsaid lifter table, means for driving said mechanism when said lifter table is located at said article delivering station, an auxiliary web feeding device, mechanism operative while said last-named means is operative for delivering web material from said supply to said web feeding mechanism on said table, and means for displacing said downwardly extending portion of said wrapper out of the path-of travel of the advancing wrapper web being fed by said mechanism.

47. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with an article lifter table, and means .for moving said table between an article receiving stationand an article delivery station, a source of supply of wrapper web material, means for delivering an article with a wrapper onto .said lifter table and partially Wrapping said Wrapper about-said article, means Ifor moving said lifter table with said partially wrapped article to said delivery station wherein a portion of said wrapper .extends downwardly beneath said lifter table,

wrapper` web feeding mechanism mounted .onsaid lifter table, means for driving said mechanism when said lifter table is located at said article delivering station, an .auxiliary web feeding .device, mechanism for operating said device during and after the operation of said last-named means for delivering web from said supply to said web feeding .mechanism on said table, means for-displacing `said downwardly extending portion of said wrapper out of the path 0f travel of the advancing -wrapper web being fed by said mechanism, and a .cont-rol device for stopping. the operation of said auxiliaryweb feeding .device when a predetermined quantity of web material has .been pulled from said supply.

48. In a wrapping machine of the type provided with an article ylifter table, and means for moving said table between .an article receiving station and an article delivery station, means for vdelivering an :article with va wrapper onto said lifter table and partially wrapping said wrapper about said article, means for moving said lifter table with said partially wrapped article to vsaid `delivery station `wherein a portion of said wrapper .extends downwardly beneath said lifter table, 

